The Leprechaun Who Wished He Wasn't (5 page)

‘I'm so sorry for showing you off to Uncle Joe,' said Phoebe to Laurence later. ‘I know I shouldn't have done it without asking you first. You were a real friend to un-disappear yourself like that, and not leave me looking like a right eejit.'

‘Well, you
were
a right eejit,' said Laurence, ‘but I couldn't disgrace you like that in front of that Murrican, now could I? After all, we're Best Friends, aren't we?'

‘Why did you decide not to go to America?' asked Phoebe. ‘It sounded like you could have a great time.'

‘Well,' said Laurence. ‘I don't think I
would like to be a media leprechaun. I'd have to be even more leprechaunish than ever, for a start. And I've been going to such trouble to be
less
like a leprechaun. And then, of course, I have a Best Friend here in Ireland.'

‘You know, Laurence,' said Phoebe, ‘you're a very nice leprechaun, really, if you don't mind my saying so.'

‘I don't,' said Laurence. ‘And I see now that I'm never going to be anything else but a leprechaun. I can't seem to grow at all, and there's no point in trying to be a huming being, just to be cool. There are lots of very uncool huming beings.'

‘Like Uncle Joe,' laughed Phoebe. ‘And Laurence, have you noticed how
thin
Uncle Joe is? Thin, but not very hip.'

Laurence nodded. That was just what he thought.

‘Oh Laurence,' went on Phoebe, ‘wait till you see the fabulous outfit my sister has got me for the wedding. Velvet trousers and a jacket and a big floppy hat. No frills at all! I'm going to look great.'

And she did. Perfectly splendid. Not in the least like a hippopotamus. And Laurence sewed on some new buttons for her that made her outfit look even more splendid still.

And they went on being Best Friends for a very long time indeed. Laurence never went back to live with the leprechauns, but he was quite happy to be a leprechaun in the human world, as long as they didn't put him on the television. And in time, he became quite a human sort of leprechaun.

Oh yes, and Laurence finally admitted to Phoebe that he really
did
have a crock of gold, and they were able to use some of it to have a nice holiday and buy some presents for Phoebe's family, and still have some left over for Phoebe to live on when she grew up.

SIOBHÁN PARKINSON
is the author of several books for young readers. She lives in Dublin with her woodturner husband, Roger, and son, Matthew, who acts as her personal critic and proofreader. Her primary interests are reading and writing, and she also sings in a choir (very quietly, in case she is found out!).

For younger readers

All Shining in the Spring

Cows are Vegetarians

Animals Don't Have Ghosts

For older readers

Amelia

No Peace for Amelia

Sisters
…
No Way!

Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (maybe)

The Moon King

Call of the Whales

The Love Bean

Breaking the Wishbone

THE
ALFIE GREEN
SERIES BY JOE O'BRIEN

A rusty key opens a dusty box hidden in Alfie's grandad's shed. Inside is an old, old book — with magical powers. The book promises Alfie a gift, but first he must take the crystal flower across Sleepy Meadows full of Snapping Dragons to the crooked tree that is guarded by Giant Hogweeds. If Alfie succeeds he will be able to do something he has never done before!

Hundreds of tiny eyes peep up at Alfie Green from the sink in his garden. Frogs! Who invited them? And when the frogs tell their friends and relations about their great new swimming pool, the place is invaded. Alfie needs help—fast. This is a job for the magic book that Alfie has inherited from his granddad. And the magic book comes up with a very unusual way of solving Alfie's problem.

Alfie is in big trouble. He stopped Whacker Walsh and his gang from trapping bees in the park and now they are out to get him. What can he do? The wise old plant in the magical book comes up with a plan that sends Alfie back to Arcania in search of the Queen Bee in Honeycomb Mountain. But first he has to survive an attack from the blazing bushes of Firethorn Valley!

Alfie's house is invaded by flies. His fly-trap plant is too small to eat them all so the wise old plant uses magic to make it bigger. Then it gets BIGGER and BIGGER and BIGGER. Nothing is safe! Alfie decides the only place for the Giant Fly-Trapper is in the Belching Bogs in Arcania. But to get there he must outwit the creatures of the Nanabur Mines and the deadly worm monster.

The circus has come to town. But it's no ordinary circus, it's Monty's Marvellous Monkey Circus and all the performers are monkeys! All the kids from Budsville are really excited, except for Alfie who suspects all is not what it seems … Send for our full-colour catalogue

Send for our full-colour catalogue